The two-time prime minister said that while he didn’t want to contest in this general election (GE15), he felt compelled to do so as he did not “complete his last term”.

The  Pejuang chairman added that he is still “very much young at heart” and ready to take on his competitors.

“This should be my last election. I didn’t want to contest this time, but since I lost my place through the action to bring down the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government (in February 2020), I hope I can finish my job now,” he said.

Mahathir said he had a strong chance of retaining the Langkawi seat because he had good support and that “the party was in good spirits”.

Asked if he should have retired, he said: “I should be retired at 97, but I am standing around, talking to you and giving reasonable answers.

“I am not as old as my age. I have been fortunate in being able to function just as well as younger people.”

Mahathir will face Armishah Siraj from Barisan Nasional (BN), Zaibidi Yahya (Pakatan Harapan), Suhaimi Abdullah (Perikatan Nasional), and independent Abd Kadir Sainudiin for the Langkawi seat in GE15.

He won the seat with an 8,893-vote majority against BN’s Nawawi Ahmad in GE14.

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